Power of Runes

A/N: Check out the Announcement Chapter. I have updated the Ranking for monsters

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As soon as Ash entered the mist, it felt as though he had stepped into another dimension entirely. The mist wasn't just fog; it drifted and clung like a strange smoke, wrapping around him as he moved forward.

His vision was swallowed by the haze, and after a while, even sound seemed to dissolve, leaving behind nothing but silence and the faint echo of his own breathing.

Yet Ash pressed onward. When he looked to the side, Ray had vanished from sight. Ash did not panic because this was exactly why the artifact used by the military was so insidious.

One could enter but not leave, and the moment someone stepped inside, they would be separated from the rest. Communication was impossible, and that was why the Major had been so worried about Ash and Ray, since neither of them planned anything together. Nor did they talk.

He will be fine... like a Tyrant could ever break his defense skill.....

Ash knew that unless an Overlord-class monster appeared, Ray would be safe. Even if he had trouble damaging a monster that had a domain, his survival was not in question.

He would not die.

And Ash was no different. Alone, he could not fare much better against such creatures, but if he and Ray ever joined forces, they might—maybe, possibly, theoretically—bring down even a Tyrant.

After walking for some time, he felt the air around him shift. The mist slowly began to clear, though it did not vanish completely. It remained, but thin enough to grant him a wider view.

Looks like I have completely entered the zone where the monsters are.....

He raised his hand and summoned Eclipse. The white jian appeared, its mirror-like surface gleaming faintly even in the mist, a rainbow-hued thread swaying at the pommel.

Ash had no strategy to follow. There was no grand plan waiting to be executed. His task was simple: to kill everything that moved inside this cage until nothing remained.

Looks like it will finally be time to test my training.....

Of course, he did not expect to see overwhelming results right away, but he would at least feel the difference in the way he moved, the way his blade struck.

When the fog ahead shifted, the pale mist was replaced by a murky swirl of purple and green.

The poisonous fog.

...looks like I am about to enter their territory.....

The creatures that lurked here were vile, twisted beasts that thrived in poison and madness.

As Ash stepped inside, he immediately felt the poisonous fog forcing its way into his body. It rushed through his veins like a flood of venom, reaching his heart and organs, making them falter and collapse, only to heal back a second later. Some organs simply died, only to be forcefully revived.

Heat and acid spread inside him, each breath prickling his lungs, irritating and burning him from within. But Ash had faced worse before, so he steadied himself and continued to walk deeper into the haze.

Without warning, something lunged at him from the side.

Ash reacted instantly, stepping back with practiced ease. His sword flashed upward in a clean arc, cutting through the creature without resistance. Green acidic blood sprayed across his academy tracksuit, leaving faint burns but failing to destroy the fabric.

The material was reinforced, designed to protect the students in combat.

Ash flicked his wrist, sending the blood flying off Eclipse's blade. Then looked at the clean surface of the sword and thought,

That was cool... I should definitely do it often.....

His eyes shifted to the corpse at his feet. The creature was hideous, almost grotesque. It had four legs covered in brown and black fur, two long upward-curved tusks, and a second set of fang-like teeth jutting down like a predator's. Its nose resembled that of a pig, a grotesque snout designed to release the poisonous fog around them. A single small horn jutted out from its forehead, and its eyes glowed a crazed red.

Its body was about twice the size of a dog.

Ash tilted his head.

"A Poisonous Dog," he muttered. That was what he decided to call it. The beast was unknown, never recorded before, which meant there was no information available.

It was a savage beast... looks like the military was mistaken about the number of monsters inside.....

They had been told that only Rank A, B, and C monsters would appear here. Yet Ash had just slain a Rank D monster.

What did that mean? Was the military wrong? Or...

...or maybe a dungeon break happened after the artifact was activated.....

If that was the case, then the situation was even more serious than expected.

But Ash's expression remained calm. His long white hair was tied neatly behind him, his piercing azure eyes unwavering, and the black tracksuit gave him a relaxed, almost unbothered appearance as he walked, patiently waiting for the next attack.

It doesn't matter if the number of monsters increases. I will just have to kill them all..... and it's not like I can die.....

With a faint chuckle, he quickened his pace.

The silence was broken in moments as four more Poisonous Dogs lunged from the fog.

Ash's body sparked with lightning. His movements blurred as he flashed forward, his sword striking with blinding speed.

Another four beasts fell, cut apart in an instant.

He was still relying only on his sword, holding back from using spells. He knew that one real battle, one true clash for survival, was worth more than countless hours of practice.

A fight for life carved instincts into the body, far sharper than repetition ever could.

And Ash intended to temper his sword here, to sharpen it until he touched the first stage of weapon mastery.

He was close. If he gave his all, if he relied on his experience, his instincts, and the teachings Leonard had left him, then this battlefield could be the place where he broke through.

Possibly.

***

"I set the traps all around the place, even in the forest, on the ground, across the sand, and even on that large cliff over there."

Luthan spoke while stretching his sore shoulders. His words were directed at Alina, who sat quietly on a rock, watching the ocean waves crash against the shore. The sun was sinking into the horizon, painting the evening sky in shades of orange and purple. It had taken them nearly six hours to finish all the preparations, and the exhaustion showed on his face.

Alina lowered her gaze, her voice trembling as she stammered, "I-I... I see. Elysia is there..."

She pointed towards the distance, where Elysia stood with Corin and Veyric. The two boys were holding down a small, green, cat-like beast while Elysia carefully tied the tracker to its body.

Luthan followed her gesture, then glanced back at Alina. He sighed and said, "Alright, but you should really try to socialize more. Otherwise, it will create problems for you in the future..."

Without waiting for her reply, he turned and walked toward Elysia and the others. Behind him, Alina bit her lip, her thoughts whispering bitterly, It's easy for you to say... You don't understand a thing.

As Luthan reached the group, he frowned at the sight of the restless creature and asked, "How do you expect me to follow it? That thing is so damn fast. I don't think I can keep up with it, not when I'm already this tired. Honestly, I don't think I'll last long running after it."

Veyric gave a reassuring nod. "Don't worry. This one's injured, so its speed has dropped. You won't have much trouble keeping up. As for your fatigue, get plenty of rest tonight, because you'll have to leave in the morning."

Hearing that, Luthan let out a long breath of relief. At least they have the sense to let me rest...

But his relief was short-lived.

"After all, you won't get any rest once tomorrow starts. So, make the most of tonight." Corin's teasing voice cut in, and Luthan's eye twitched in annoyance.

This bastard... he's always like this. Just let me...

Before he could snap back, Elysia spoke with her calm tone, "It's fine, don't mind Corin. You should rest well. In fact, you don't need to do any night watch today. We cannot predict how tomorrow will turn out, and I want you at your best. I trust you to handle this task, because your role is an important one."

Luthan straightened at her words, his earlier irritation fading. Yet a question weighed on his mind, and after a pause, he asked seriously, "Miss Elysia, can you tell me why you gave me this task? There are stronger people in the team, like Corin or Veyric. They could handle it better than me, so... why me?"

It was a question born out of genuine confusion. The responsibility was heavy, and he couldn't understand why it had fallen on him. The second weakest in the group.

Elysia's crimson eyes softened as she smiled faintly. "Because you always get the work done."

Huh...?

Luthan thought in a dazed expression.

"You complete every task I assign you, even if it doesn't suit you. You may not excel in one thing, but you are capable of adapting to many. In short, you're a jack of all trades, and that is exactly what we need for this role. That is why I chose you. Does that answer your question?"

Luthan felt his cheeks warm at her words, and for the first time, he found himself flustered by unexpected praise. "Y-yeah... it does."

"Tsk." Corin clicked his tongue, clearly displeased.

After discussing some other details, everyone was dismissed.

***